This time of year always makes me want to be winding the day down on a beach in Nantucket or California. Friends piled on a blanket with drinks, kids running in the sand, sun setting on the ocean, bonfire beginning to burn. While my sundown reality is much more about the daycare dash and dinnertime craze, the power of smell is a beautiful thing. The “Beach Fire” candle at Brown & Greene Floral is so transporting, it conjures all this up in one smell. I’ve bought nearly a dozen so far for family and friends—since they’re $10 a pop or three for $25 it’s a great idea to stock up for hostess gifts (they’ll even wrap them individually!).

Beyond the beach, the wall of candles at B&G includes a gazillion scents from peony and pineapple to tomato and lemongrass. It’s just one of the well-decorated vignettes in this little shop that’s bursting with good decor ideas and gifts. And we love that little welcome wagon out front.

It’s like the lights went on and the store is shining down on their mini-shops in the home department. Jonthan Adler’s Happy Chic is incredible, a total mini JA store with bedding around $100 and lots of accessories and go-to gifts. And furniture! Entire rooms of JA furniture from the sleek sofas to cheeky bedroom prints.

Martha Stewart’s party supplies are going to make this another reason to stop back frequently. Cohesive lines of nice party plates, cocktail napkins…even those on-trend giant balloons. One-stop shopping at really good price points, with Martha taste. Also loved the Bodum coffee shop, what a perk! And there’s a whole bunch of Fiestaware for those fans. All very smart JCP, we’ll be back.

When I was five or six, I decided to celebrate Father’s Day by making my dad a gourmet meal. I carefully selected the best french fries out of a frozen Ore-Ida bag, plopped them in water to give the dish a soup-like quality, and garnished my creation with chocolate and strawberry syrups. It was—in my opinion—a masterpiece, and I was completely satisfied with the fake “ohhhs,” “ahhhs,” and “yums” that in my young mind were real. Needless to say, my dad didn’t actually eat the concoction (but I thank him for humoring me!).

Now that I’ve grown up, my gift-giving skills have improved, but Father’s Day always leaves me clueless. I don’t know whether it’s the fact that guys are so dang hard to shop for, or if it’s because I feel like I’ve already given him everything there is to give. So this year I set out to find some truly unique—and useful!—gifts. Maybe after reading this, you’ll be as inspired as I was.

Electric Smoker. Nothing is as quintessentially “dad” as grilling on a warm summer night. And this smoker can cook up to 50 pounds of meat at once. Smoker ($80), by Brinkmann, from The Home Depot, multiple locations including 1520 New Brighton Blvd., Mpls., 612-782-9594, homedepot.com  

1938 Black Leather Butterfly Chair. Ideal for sport watching, beer drinking, novel reading. Chair ($399), from CB2, 3045 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls., 612-821-9303, cb2.com

Iron Range Key Fob. Enough searching for misplaced keys. Now he can keep ‘em together—in style. Key fob ($35), by Leatherworks Minnesota, from Forage Modern Workshop, 4023 E. Lake St., Mpls., 612-886-3603, foragemodernworkshop.com 

15-Piece Knife Set. Even if your guy doesn’t cook, he’ll appreciate the ease of cutting into a steak with these handsome blades. Knife set ($200), by Schmidt Brothers, from West Elm, 3879 Gallagher Dr., Edina, 952-835-8332, westelm.com

On the ROCK Glass with Ice Ball Maker. A specially designed glass allows the ice ball to swirl seamlessly, while releasing aromas and flavors. Perfect for scotch, whiskey, and bourbon drinkers. Glass and ice ball mold ($19.99), from Brookstone, multiple locations including Mall of America, 952-858-8848, brookstone.com

“Dads Are The Original Hipsters” Book. For anyone in need of a laugh, hand over this hilarious coffee table book. Book ($13), also from CB2  

Tie-Tracker Revolving Tie Rack. Maybe he likes to control his own tie style, but you can keep him organized with this revolving tie rack. It even has a light for easy closet searching. Tie rack ($50), by Perfect Solutions, from Sears, multiple locations including Ridgedale Center, Minnetonka, 952- 542-2079, sears.com

Classic Horn Shaving Set. Ergonomically designed and made with hand-selected horn, this is one of the classiest shaving sets around. Shaving set ($475), from The Art of Shaving, Mall of America, 952-854-1441, theartofshaving.com

Dad’s Day Off Pinot Noir. The name says it all. Whether he’s a suit and tie kind of guy, or a stay-at-home dad, he deserves to sit back and relax with a glass of this spicy/fruity vino. Bottle ($9.99), from Haskell’s, multiple locations including 5155 W. 98th St., Bloomington, 952-893-5440, haskells.com 

There seems to be an app for everything local these days. You can search stores, restaurants, movies, gyms, and now—homes.

New for Androids and iPhones, the Edina Realty Property Search allows its users to view listings on every home for sale in the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. All you have to do is pop in the city, zip code, or style of home you’re looking for and—bam!—color photos and complete property information are at your fingertips. For those who don’t want to miss a beat, this makes it easy to track homes the instant they hit the market and look up stats on those “For Sale signs” while cruising through neighborhoods.

“Mobile Internet usage is quickly becoming the norm and is expected to bypass desktop Internet usage within a year or two,” says Bob Peltier, president and CEO of Edina Realty Home Services. “Our agents and customers can be confident that we’re not just keeping up with the latest mobile apps; we’re leading the marketplace with the latest and greatest mobile property search tools.”

In addition to viewing properties, you can also share your favorites with friends and family via social media and view realtor profiles on the easy-to-navigate interface. But the best part? It’s completely free. Welcome to house hunting on the go.

Minnesota native Amy Matthews is bringing reality television to the Twin Cities. As the host of HGTV’s new series Renovation Raiders, Matthews works with a team of skilled professionals to pull off a complete room overhaul in a matter of hours while the homeowners are out to dinner.

Mpls.St.Paul Home spoke with the seasoned TV contractor about the show, tips for homeowners wanting to renovate, and her favorite home improvement stores in the Twin Cities.

Mpls.St.Paul Home: The entire season of this show takes place in Minneapolis. What do you like about filming in your hometown?

Amy Matthews: I worked on this show called Sweat Equity. It’s a long running show, and the first season was in Denver with a different production company. After the first season I said, “You know what? I can’t commute to Denver. It’s too far!” The head of the network called me up and said, “How about we move it to Minneapolis?” So it’s happened before with shows. I can’t tell you how grateful I am. It’s awesome for my family life—my husband and son are here—but also for the gains of employment for these great, talented people in the Twin Cities.

MSP: You’ve tackled projects all over the world—from Los Angeles to Thailand. What’s different about taking on projects in Minnesota?

AM: When you look at some of the shows shot in California, you might be looking at a bungalow that’s the same size as your bungalow in south Minneapolis, but you’re house is about $275,000 to $300,000, and out there, it’s $800,000 to $1 million. And you’re going, “Are you kidding me?” It’s unrealistic. We’re relatable and I think that’s a beautiful thing. I also love being in a place in the Midwest where people are excited about their projects. They want to get their hands dirty and they take so much pride in doing parts of the project on their own. There are a lot of great places in the country and I’m really lucky to have worked on so many different projects, but it’s my hometown. How can’t you love it?

MSP: You’re from north Minneapolis, you grew up in Robbinsdale, and you recently purchased a house in Afton. How did your Minnesota upbringing lead you to a career in the renovation business?

AM: I grew up doing a lot of projects through my church, actually. They did projects every summer and throughout the year that were kind of Habitat for Humanity–based. As a young kid if you asked me if I thought I was going to go into construction, I would’ve laughed. I played the violin and I was in the arts—I even went to college for that out east. But I think that taste and that early knowledge—putting a hammer in my hand at 14 years old—was really a great experience. I have a picture of myself with a bad ’80s hairdo doing some roofing. It was only later in my career when what I learned in television and film collided with an audition for a home improvement show years ago. I just felt absolutely connected to the process of television and home improvement. It was a great marriage.

MSP: Being a contractor is a difficult job in general. What additional challenges do you face being a contractor on TV?

AM: It’s really a completely different game. On TV, there’s a broad scope of knowledge that I’ve had to research and gain to be able to translate to someone watching television. I feel like I have to be a jack-of-all-trades. The television part of it has forced me to get an incredible insight of all different facets of the home building and home improvement industry.

Amy Matthews and the rest of the Renovation Raiders team.

MSP: Watching this show is sure to give viewers some inspiration for their own renovation projects. What tips do you have for them?

AM: A coat of paint is the first thing you can do to make a change in a short amount of time. Also, think about energy savings. A lot of people get scared away because they want to spend less upfront. Let’s say you’re going to the length of installing a new furnace. Think about purchasing a learning thermostat, something that costs about $100. Nest has one that learns your behavior in the house. You don’t have to program it, and you don’t have to turn it up and down at night. Everybody forgets that, so they’re paying much more on their heating and cooling. For every degree that you change the thermostat, you’re saving 5 percent on you bill. That’s huge! Above all, try and choose things that are healthy for your home. You don’t want your house to look good and then realize that the indoor air quality is as bad as it is downtown at rush hour.

An example of a Renovation Raiders project.

MSP: The draw of this show is that all the projects are done within a few hours, while the homeowners are gone. Can viewers pull that off?

AM: One thing you can do inside the house when your spouse is out to dinner—besides a coat of paint—are the cabinets. If you have old golden oak cabinets, which are the bane of my existence, think about repainting them or just purchasing new doors.

MSP: Whether shopping for a client or yourself, what are some of your favorite home improvement stores in the Twin Cities?

AM: I’m always looking for new, eco-friendly products and I try to use local stores. I love the Building Materials Outlet [in Eagan] and Forest Products Supply [in Maplewood]. I wanted to build a floating vanity with some unique type of wood. I didn’t have anything in particular that I needed; I just needed something that was the right size. I went to that store and they had a lumberyard of amazing pieces. They’re a great resource if you need any type of wood. I also shop a lot in Stillwater for antique pieces. The idea of repurposing furniture and materials is so fun for me. Everybody wants something unique. It’s not about keeping up with the Joneses anymore. It’s about personalizing your space. When you think out of the box with the products that you use, you’ll stop shopping at the basic stable places and you’ll start looking for creative ways to use things, which I think is the most fun way to design.

MSP: Being from Minnesota, you’re obviously very familiar with buildings in the area. If you could renovate any space in the Twin Cities, what would it be?

AM: I’ve always wanted to renovate that old Sears building that turned into the Global Midtown Market off Lake Street.

Tune in to HGTV for the season premiere of Renovation Raiders on May 30 at 8 p.m.

For most, Memorial Day is the official kick-off to summer. It’s the time of year when we plan vacations, go to countless barbecues, and realize that, yes, that cold weather was really worth the hassle. So while you pack your bags for the long weekend (most likely thinking, “Get me outta here!”) we wanted to remind you why Minnesota is so great with these North Star State-themed home goodies. 

Minnesota-themed pillow. Ox Bow Décor has introduced Minnesota into its line of vintage map pillows. As we learned in March from the experts at Martha O’Hara Interiors, pillows are key to giving your home an easy and affordable makeover. This pillow sells in two colors: linen and green. 

Pillow ($100), by Ox Bow Décor, from Blanc de Blanc, 691 Lake St., Wayzata, 952-473-8275, blancdeblancltd.com  

Heritage blanket. Love From Minnesota has a great Scandinavian-esque blanket in stock for the season. This Blue Diamond Throw is large enough to use as a decorative statement piece or as a picnic blanket.

Blanket ($120), from Love From Minnesota, multiple locations including Ridgedale Center, 12667 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka, 952-546-0978, lovefrommn.com

Wallhanging. When you’re looking for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, Etsy never fails. We found this wall decor, great for a bathroom or child’s bedroom, from print shop Little Monique.

Wall decor ($14.95), by Little Monique, from Etsy, etsy.com/shop/littlemonique

Minnesota-inspired book. No coffee table is complete without a coffee table book. We love this Minnesota and Wisconsin Bicycle Vacation Guide from Bibelot. Prepare for your two-wheeled road adventures while flipping through pages of 50 different maps and sipping iced-coffee on the sofa.

Cutting board. Also from Etsy, this cutting board can be customized by placing the heart on your hometown. You can actually use it as a cutting board, but we’ve heard of people hanging it as decorative artwork as well. Plus, it makes for a great housewarming or wedding present.

Cutting board ($48), by AHeirloom, from Etsy, etsy.com/shop/aheirloom 

What are your favorite Minnesota home decor pieces?

MSP Homes got a sneak preview of the art extravaganza happening this weekend in Northeast Minneapolis. We talked with a few of the Art-A-Whirl participants who are craftsmen and furniture collectors working in the Northeast studios.

Omforme Design, (Carter Averbeck, co-owner)

“My whole thing is recycling furniture because there’s an eco-friendly aspect to it, but also because we have so much beautiful furniture in the world, we don’t need to tear down resources to make more.”

Category: Recycled and Up-Cycled Vintage Furniture.

Omforme Design transforms the vintage items they find at auctions or markets throughout the Midwest, tweaking the pieces to match the current design trends.”You would never believe that almost 80 percent of what is in our shop right  now was once thrown away.”

What To Look For: With more than 50 pieces of furniture and dozens of home  accessories, it will be easy to walk away with a statement or complimentary piece. However, the enamel-rimmed wooden bowls and the recycled mirror table caught our eye, which Averbeck said was made entirely from scratch.

Where To Find Them This Weekend: Northrup King Building in NE Minneapolis.

Guerilla by Design, (Erin Moren co-owner/designer of Tandem Made)

“The Guerilla by Design group is about getting furniture out of the context of galleries, into public space so people can interact with it in the ways they  were meant to interact with it . . . by sitting on it, touching it, etc.”

Category: Artisan, hand-made.

Erin and Nate Moren of Tandem Made are a married artisan duo focused on three-dimensional objects. This duo is part of a larger cooperative, the local Guerilla by Design. There are over 20 designers who form Guerilla by Design, and the compilation of their work will be on display inside shipping containers this weekend.

What to look for:  Within the unique displays you’ll notice pendant lights made out of aluminum—they are Tandem Made. We’ll be looking for those and the funky aluminum bowls, both of which were laser-cut, flattened, then bent into their from by Erin and Nate.

Where To Find Them This Weekend: Casket Carriage House, 1720 Madison Street

findfurnish (Brian Wilcox, co-owner)

“Northeast Minneapolis is becoming the design district for the Twin Cities.”

Category:  Vintage Goods, some restored and refurnished.

Wilcox, co-owns Find and Furbish with Marie used to be a community organizer, a role which he says contributes to his success now in finding vintage items to sell and refurbish. “You have to find people who are to find the stuff. You organize and build relationships to have a network all over the midwest and into the Carolinas. That’s how we keep it fresh and keep it moving.”

What To Look For:  Look for both locations!  Find and Furnish has both a warehouse location and a storefront and the will both be open for Art-A-Whirl this weekend. Here’s the dish: the storefront has restored and refurbished items; the warehouse has three or four dozen vintage items.

 Where To Find Them This Weekend: Warehouse: Casket Carriage House, 1720 Madison St.; Storefront: 13 NE 5th St.

Keeping the house clean and organized can be an uphill battle for any mom. So in honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, we’re hoping to provide some relief.

Mpls.St.Paul Home spoke with interior design expert Lisa Peck, owner and principal for LiLu Interiors, and tapped her for tips on keeping every strewn sock, soccer cleat, and school permission slip in place. “It’s important to think about both basic storage and creating a space that your family wants to keep clean and organized,” she says. “Moms spend a lot of time organizing. If you don’t have to devote time daily or weekly to a pick-up battle, then you can spend more time on the things that you would like to prioritize, like spending time playing, taking bike rides, or helping with homework.”

Now, we’re not promising anything, but follow these tips and you may even have time to hit the spa . . .

Mpls.St.Paul Home: As an expert in the industry, and a mother yourself, what are some of the biggest organizational concerns you deal with on a day-to-day basis?

Lisa Peck: Having enough storage, and the right storage, in exactly the place you need it. Often rooms lack the built-in storage or closed storage needed to keep a home neat and visually peaceful. Also, if an organization system isn’t easy to use, people just won’t use it. Point-of-use storage is a great way to keep things organized and eliminate stress in your life. If your kids will only play in the family room, create appropriate, aesthetically pleasing storage there—not in a far away play room.

Before and after.

MSP: That can be easier said than done. What do you suggest for moms who feel overwhelmed by the task of cleaning and organizing their home?

LP: Be ruthless and get rid of things that are no longer relevant. Sort things into must keep, can be sold at reuse store or garage sale, donate, and garbage piles. Once you have your piles, think about how and where the things you are keeping are used and store them in kid-friendly spots. Consider labeling storage spots with tags so kids have an easy-to-understand system. Also, enlist your children to help. Offer them cash for bringing things to Once Upon a Child or explain how a smaller child might be thrilled with a toy or clothing they haven’t touched in the past year.

MSP: Speaking of kids, they are usually a source of disorganization in the home—the front door jam where kids drop their backpacks and shoes being one example. It’s an inevitable problem, so how can we make that more organized?

LP: Kids won’t use hangers, but hooks are great. Put a hook for backpacks and coats at a 5-year-old height and a 12-year-old height. A locker outside the back door or a built-in area with extra large cubbies is great for sports equipment. Ease of use equals actual use.

Hang hooks for backpacks and coats in the mudroom.

MSP: What about those mountains of permission slips and forms kids bring home from school? How can moms make it easy to know where the important forms are and access them hassel-free?

LP: I suggest having an organization desk in the mudroom. Don’t let things that don’t need to travel too far into your home. Create an “in” and “out” box for each person in your home right at the back door, or use a bulletin board divided into sections for each person so forms that need to be signed and sent back never get lost in a pile or with your household bills.

A mudroom organization desk.

MSP: With all of these tips, it sounds like our readers have some shopping to do. What are your top must-have products for organized moms?

LP: Tackable magnetic wallcovering, file organizers for each person in your household (either built-in or portable), eye-pleasing bins, and a shredder.

Magnetized wallcovering by Lori Weitzner.

Whew, time to hit the stores! Sounds like the perfect task for after the much-deserved pampering this Sunday. Happy Mother’s Day!

Join Mingle, the 25,000-square-foot Plymouth design showroom, in its grand opening celebration this week.

The Twin Cities’ newest showroom is a one-stop-shop for homeowners. In addition to cabinet, countertop, appliance, flooring, and lighting offerings, the design center also invites guests to touch and experience its products—there’s even a private spa room that allows customers to take a test soak under different shower heads.

Starting Wednesday, the public is invited to “mingle” among the nearly 120 individually designed vignettes while tasting food from renowned Twin Cities chefs, participating in wine tastings, and even mixing up a few drinks of their own with mixology lessons. Attendees will also have the opportunity to get their home and interiors design questions answered by experts in the field.

The celebration runs from Wednesday through Sunday. Visit mingleteam.com for the full schedule of events.

12955 Hwy. 55, Plymouth, 763-717-8500